Rethink grain for ethanol

摘要

Drought is a cyclical event. This year, drought is affecting major areas of the U.S., especially the grain (corn) producing areas. This has been a major news item for the past month or more. Projections are abundant on the effect of this drought on food and feed supplies and the ultimate effect on food prices. Grain will still be produced, but in smaller amounts. In view of the projected situation, does it still make sense to use 40-50% of the nation's corn production to produce ethanol to extend ourgasoline supply when the supply of grain for food and feed use is being threatened? The production of ethanol was, and is, heavily subsidized to extend gasoline supplies from oil. The wisdom of this promotion was questioned in the beginning and has already caused a major economic shift in the production of meat, milk and eggs due to feed costs that have increased two-to-three fold.